Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon and Cotswolds Tour from London

Perfect experience

The experience is very good! Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon are beautiful! The tour guild Danxia was excellent! She informed everything clearly, such as the notice of eating on bus, the way from the drop off point to everyone’s residency, where is the restroom we could use (free or with payment), and she gave good suggestions about what to do in our free time or what to eat for lunch. In addition, she told lots of stories about the attractions. She spoke bilingual (English and Mandarin) very fluently and clearly. She cared for the need of everyone, and managed everything very well. The diver Ashley drove very smoothly.

Great

I’m fully satisfied about this tour. Danxia has just been a wonderful guide, she explained so many things, she anticipated all questions and gave great recommendations. I didn’t buy entrance tickets, but she gave me great options to spend my time elsewhere. Ashley was our driver and he was just perfect as well. I think the tour was very well organised, a few stops for the fair amount of time needed. I would recommend it to anyone.

A fun whistle stop tour

Amanda was an incredible guide!! She gave great information and was very kind I just wish we had a full hour in Bibury

Excellent

Amanda our tour guide gave a very informative and lively commentary and also was very helpful . We truly enjoyed the trip. Amen

Shakespeare 10 hour tour with Eileen and Jamil

Our tour guide (Eileen) and driver (Jimil) were outstanding. Jimil was an expert driver and was timely in picking us up at each stop. Eileen was perky, humorous, and kept our group interested with relevant facts. Her infectious smile was most entertaining when she was reminding us to not break the law and wear our seatbelts and to be back on time. She did a great job keeping us on schedule in a very kind way. The only disappointment was that our bus did not have a bathroom which was an important feature on a 10 hour trip. I had to spend time during the tour stops to use the bathroom which took time away from previous tour time in the 30 minute stops.

Well done Shakespeare!

Eileen gave us great insights and information about the sites. Her knowledge about Shakespeare was deep.

Disappointing experience

Our original booking was cancelled at last minute without advance notice. We were given the alternative option to join a similar tour on the spot upon arrival. As my family and I had already spent an hour to travel to the meeting point, we had no choice but to take up the offer. The tour was replaced with a tour entitled ‘Shakespeare Birthplace, Warwick Castle and Oxford University’. It was very rush as there were 3 destinations as planned instead of the original 2. The assigned tour guide, Regina and bus driver were good though. However, we felt short changed as we were not able to go to the Shakespeare’s classroom and the beautiful Avon. Unexpected change had somehow changed the experience. Disappointed with the service provided.

More Than We Anticipated!

We loved the picturesque villages and we knew that Shakespeare's birthplace would be a highlight. We were not anticipating two bonus experiences: Shakespeare's Schoolroom featured fabulous acting in a "Living History" setting from Schoolmaster Jenkins, and the Cotswold Motoring and Toy Museum was mentioned as a possibility (not included in the tour, but the tour gave me time and I paid for it and was blown away). I saw cars I had read about but never seen (Rileys, Standards, and an Invicta), as well as more Austin and MG models than I had seen before. Without the tour, we wouldn't have driven down by ourselves and we are so glad we took the tour.

Overall good

The driver could have been more mindful of the customers but Mark was very courteous and level headed and pointed out a lot. The Shakespeare portion of the trip was wonderful.

Fantastic and fast-paced tour

Fantastic tour with a great tour guide (Oliver) and smooth driver (Jordan). We read reviews beforehand, so we were prepared to be rushed around from place to place. It was a great way to see many sights as a day trip from London without worrying about navigation. Oliver made sure we saw everything we paid for and gave us some good laughs. Would highly recommend this tour as long as you are okay with moving quickly from spot to spot.

Be Careful

The tour left us at the stop before Stratford. We were at the meeting place at the appointed time and learned they left from someplace else. We had to return to London at our own expense.

Too rushed!

We loved seeing the Cotswolds and Stratford upon Avon; however, the stops were too rushed. 30 minutes at the first Cotswolds stop and 1 hour at the second Cotswolds stop. With all the driving between the three stops, the 12.5 hour tour was actually quite rushed. If one of the Costwolds stops were eliminated. there would have been more time for the other two stops.

Nice but disappointing.

A very nice tour but disappointed by the time set up . The Driver was nice and Oliver our tour guide was very informative . I spent a lot of money and expected to spend more than an hour in Cotswold Bourton-on-the-Water and Stratford upon Avon, but it was only 30 minutes.

Good your

Nice tour and the guide Oliver was informative. V, the driver, was very courteous. One stop for the Cotswold would be ok so we could spend more time at Stratford on Avon.

Excellent guide Amanda...

Excellent guide Amanda and driver. Informative, timely, BOTH SUPER HELPFUL***. Recommend HIGHLY!! Each stop at Cotswold' Anne Hathoway and Shakespear's birthplace were superb.

Lack of coordination and communication

I want to start by saying that it is incredible that Viator asked me about my experience with the tour that was canceled and that they did not notify me. The day before the tour, Viator sent me a text confirming the reservation and when my husband and I arrived in the morning, the tour had been cancelled. They accommodated us on a different tour with 50 people to resolve the issue, that ended up being in English and Mandarin, a total disaster. There were many people and it was impossible for us to hear what the guide was saying, and the tour did not have audio equipment for everyone. Everything was extremely rushed. You had to see the places literally by running. There was no time for anything. It is fair to recognize that the guide did the best she could between the two languages ​​and the lack of equipment that the company that prepares the tour should offer. Viator should have coordinated with the company offering the tour and notified us before the cancellation. It was not a good experience, it was a waste of time and money.

Unpleasant amendments at last minute

Our preferred tour was cancelled at last minute and there was no advance notice given by both the tour agency and Viator. Even though Golden Tours had attempted to replace it with a similar tour package, it was still not want we actually preferred. The visit to Shakespeare birthplace was condensed and we didn’t manage to visit Shakespeare classrooms and others. Felt rather rushed as we had to cover 3 places (Shakespeare Birthplace, Warwick Castle & Oxford University) in one go instead of 2 places (Shakespeare and Cotswold ) as planned. We had to gobble our sandwiches and no time to have a proper lunch. The coach driver and tour guide, Regina was great and approachable though.

Very poor

I would recommend that you share with your guide, Oliver, that being sarcastic and arrogant is not a way for a travel guide to behave. He should leave his attitude for home not work.

Absolutely terrible

Terribly disappointed with this company, there was a whole shutdown of the city for unseen reasons for a sporting event that we were not made aware of. Me and my 78-year-old mother had to run through the city. We got to the station three minutes late. They did not wait for us and did not give us a refund.

Worth ticket price!

Beautiful Town and the Shakespeare Bookshop and House Tour is superb! Worth paying to go into, the garden was stunning! Very informative staff. Privileged to walk the same steps as Shakespeare and others!

Lovely experience but a bit rushed

It was a lovely tour but, it felt a bit rushed at times. I guess this is a common thing in most of tours.

Amazing sights!

Our tour guide (Oliver) and bus driver (Pawell) were amazing! The sights were beautiful and the guides and actors at Shakespeare’s birthplace were knowledgeable and talented. We just wish there was more time at some places.

A really lovely day

Amazing trip! I’ve done a few guided day trips like this to escape London from time to time and discover areas I couldn’t otherwise without a car and this was hands on one of the best. Oliver was knowledgeable, helpful and had organized and timed our day perfectly so we had time to see everything on the agenda without rushing too much (it was a busy day in the area!). Pavel was a very good and smooth driver, making us feel safe on the road. I recommend!

Great trip except....

We had a great time in Stratford -on-Avon, and the Cotswolds ,everything was fun. Our tour guide, Eileen, was extremely knowledgeable, and our bus driver Steve was a master at maneuvering the bus. Bibury was gorgeous. The only boring, unnecessary stop on the trip was something-on-the water!? The stop had nothing to offer.

Excellent tour of Oxford, Warwick Castle, & Stratford

I recently enjoyed a fantastic tour of Oxford, Warwick Castle, and Stratford, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. Our tour guide, Stefan, and our coach driver, Dan, were both exceptional and contributed greatly to the success of the day. Firstly, Dan's driving and navigation were outstanding. He expertly maneuvered the coach through the winding roads and busy streets, ensuring a smooth and comfortable journey for all of us. His skills behind the wheel made us feel safe and well-taken care of throughout the tour. Stefan's knowledge of the locations we visited was impressive. In Oxford, he shared fascinating insights into the history and architecture of the university and the city. At Warwick Castle, his detailed commentary brought the medieval fortress to life, making our visit both educational and enjoyable. In Stratford, Stefan's passion for Shakespeare and the town's heritage was evident, enriching our experience with interesting anecdotes and historical facts. The tour was well-organized, and we returned to London safe and sound, thanks to Stefan and Dan's careful planning and professionalism. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore these iconic destinations with knowledgeable and friendly guides.

Day tour to Cotswolds

An absolute joy spending an extremely long day with our guide Eileen who’s very knowledgeable on everywhere we go (plus lots of fun fact!), professional and also humorous making sure everyone was taken care of and had a good time. Kudos to her and also Steve who’s our driver of the day!

Look for Danxia as your Golden Guide

Danxia was our excellent tour guide with great extra commentary and wonderful information we would not have received such as the London history and additional nearby village history information. Truly an exceptional tour guide.

Cancelled tour

We arrived at pickup and learned our tour had been canceled. They had tried once to call, while we were on another tour the day before , and running in the rain and this unable to pick up.

Tour Guide was excellent but the company was not so good

Our tour guide Danxia was excellent, she has extensive knowledge in London & nearby attractions, places to see, eating & shopping etc & was so willing to share these information with us. She explained all aspects of 5 towns we visited thoroughly. She was super energetic, enthusiast & helpful. Our driver Koli drove & park safely. Overall a wonderful experience, except that the company cancelled my day tour group 2 days prior to departure & their email notification went into my junk mail. So I turned up on the day & was told about the cancellation. The duty manager Joe was not so helpful & refused to give me any written guarantee that I will receive partial refund as my original tour included lunch. I had to find out the new tour number through our tour guide & wrote an email requesting partial refund. Still waiting for the company’s response regarding this request.

Great

Took so many pictures Oliver had great enthusiasm and Ashley was very timely and provide great travel great service thank you

Enjoyable trip

It all went smoothly and pleasant . Our tour guide, Dan was very professional and knowledgeable + funny , driver Malcolm gave us a safe and happy ride. Thank you all

History to see!

Seeing the birthplace of Shakespeare and the quaint villages of the Cotswalds. Good food readily available. Bus driver and tour guide competent and flexible.

Informative

The guide Oscar was very nice and informative. I would recommend the tour. The motor coach was very comfortable an allowed me to get some shut eye while traveling between locations.

History

Visit to Shakespeare’s classroom. Enjoyed the Cotswold area with thatched roofs. Had a good tour leader who shared a lot of history.

Nice trip

Our guide ,Pablo, was excellent .very knowledgeable and very friendly. Wish we had a guided tour in Warwick castle. The Shakespeare and Oxford tour was fantastic

Great experience in Cotswold!

The trip was wonderful! Views were gorgeous. Guide(Danxia) was very nice and knowledgeable. She took care of everyone in the tour.

The tour agency informs...

The tour agency informs us in advance of the cancellation of this tour and provide us with alternatives.

Fantastic Guide !

Our tour director Dan was fantastic. Knowledgeable, organized and fun! Probably the one of the best tour guides have met. It’s no wonder that the tour company had three new hires on the tour so they could see how she managed our group for the entire day. Our day included the Cotswolds, Anne Hathaways home, Shakespeare’s school and Shakespeare’s home.

Highly recommend!

We had a great day out, very smooth and efficient. Regina was knowledgeable, informative, helpful and caring; the best guide we have ever had. Ashley, our coach driver was an excellent smooth, safe, professional driver; and again the best coach driver we have had to date. Thank you Golden Tours. Highly recommend.

Easy day in Stratford upon Avon

So interesting just strolling around the town. Loved the Shakespeare Museum well worth the visit. Went on a narrow boat experience. The crew was very helpful and informative. Ample parking

Tour to rushed

Cotswold was beautiful definitely not enough time give to see everything. Trying to cover to much in small amount of time. Bourton on the Water was a highlight and again not enough time. It was all great it just seemed we were rushing from one place to another.

Must go

Cottswalds did not disappoint. Very knowlegable guide. Fun day. Amazing scenery. Comfortable coach.

The visit to the Cotswolds was delightful

This was a tour chosen by a friend, it was never on my bucket list, but I loved it. The visit to the Cotswolds was delightful, and visiting the birthplace of Shakespeare and his school was very interesting. This is a full day tour that I recommend if you are staying more than 4 days in London.

Come come

Denxia is a excellent tour leader and Amendo is a nice driver. We felt comfortable and relax in this tour. Such a wonderful tour.

Shakespeare and Cotswolds Tour

I had an awesome day and loved seeing the beautiful Cotswolds and learning more about Shakespeare and the places he lived. Our tour guide Grace and bus driver Eddy were great, and I enjoyed the introductions to our stops Grace gave us.

Unforgettable

The views were amazing and the history of the places were captivating. Minding the time is the key to a hassle free tour.

Super super super

Our guide DAN, she was awesome. Learned a lot of good info throughout the trup. 10 stars for her. The driver was very good as well. Highly recommend this trup.

Dolly is the BEST!!!

This was an amazing excursion. We loved our guide Dolly! Our driver! Dolly was so engaging, funny, knowledgeable, and just the best guide EVER!!! She has so much information to share, and we could not get enough of her knowledge. We enjoyed every single bit of this tour and hope to come back to see it again. The Cotswolds potion of the tour was beautiful. Hope to take another tour soon to go back.

Very enjoyable

Eileen was a great tour guide and Nuno a very good driver. Plenty of time at each stop and a very enjoyable trip.

We enjoyed beautiful day...

We enjoyed beautiful day in Cotswold With informative guide. It was wonderful day we stayed back at Burton on water.